Kris Pendlebury

[Football Factory]

ON THE back of what he calls his best season to date, Collingwood VFL captain Kris Pendlebury believes he has plenty to offer an AFL club if they're willing to give him a chance.

The 26-year-old defender had a season to remember this year; he was named at full back in the VFL team of the year and won the club's VFL best and fairest.

He also captained the team for the third straight year.

The older brother of Collingwood vice captain Scott is eligible for the upcoming NAB AFL Draft and rookie draft after nominating for the third time last year.

At 190cm and 89kg and with the ability to hold down a key defensive post, Pendlebury believes he would be a handy acquisition for a club looking for a hardened recruit with the added experience of playing on key AFL forwards.

"If I could describe myself to a club, I'd say I'm a ready-made player that could step in straight away," Pendlebury told AFL.com.au.

"I believe I could play straight away and take the third, second tall forward. I can play on small forwards as well.

"I've got that maturity and I'm in that age bracket I think a lot of clubs are lacking in so I think I can step in and provide a lot of leadership.

"I'm just a solid, reliable defender."

So keen is Pendlebury to get his start in the AFL, he'd be just as thrilled to be given his chance through a club's rookie list as he would the draft.

"I'd jump at it and take it with both hands. I wouldn't care how I got on there or what it was. Anything I can get my hands on, I'll take it," he said.

"It's the hardest thing, getting that foot in the door. I think once I do that and get a crack, I think I'll be fine.

"The hardest part is getting that chance."

Like his brother, who is 18 months younger than him, Pendlebury approaches his football with meticulous preparation and dedication.

A shoulder injury four years ago saw him develop similar principles to Scott in regards to rehabilitation, which have translated into the way he attacks his football today.

When he spoke to AFL.com.au, he had just finished his day job and was en route to a Spotswood gym where he was set to train with Scott.

"It's pretty good to have one another and push each other along," he said



Kris Pendlebury (51) tackles Brock McLean in a VFL game



Pendlebury works in construction for a Port Melbourne engineering company as a labourer, and has eventual plans to move into a more specialised field.

He has only just made the transition into engineering after working as a personal trainer.

During the season, Pendlebury's dedication to football can't be questioned.

He treats the game like a full time job, even though it's virtually a second job of the same duration.

After working a 7am to "between 3 and 4pm" day, Pendlebury arrives at the Westpac Centre or the Spotswood gym to do what his brother and his Collingwood teammates do while he's at work.

"I'm always doing something every day in regards to footy or training so I treat it as a full time job and take a lot of pride in it," he said.

While pushing up the ground for the first half of this season has given Pendlebury a bigger scope as far as where he can play, it's captaining the team over the past three seasons that has made a marked impression.

When he first arrived at Collingwood for the 2008 season after three years playing for Bendigo, he admitted he was a shy, quiet type of guy.

He believes this has changed since he's held the skippering role.

"[Being captain] has taught me a lot of communication skills and how to be vocal and get your point across," he said.

"It's taught me to communicate with the younger guys a lot better and learn that everyone is different. Some people might respond if you get right into them whereas other blokes might respond badly to that so you take them away from everyone for a chat and don't belittle them.

"I've really enjoyed the role and helping the younger guys."

Pendlebury has completed two AFL pre-seasons - one with Essendon in 2006 and one with Collingwood in 2009 - and hopes he'll get a similar opportunity this year to again attempt to prove what he can offer.

The bumps along the way have been hard; Pendlebury said he almost gave the game away a few years ago when he missed out yet again in the November and December drafts.

But now, as much as he craves a career in the AFL, he has made peace with the idea of forging a meaningful period as a VFL player, in the league he calls "the second best in the country".

"I've learned not to get my hopes up too high because I've been through it a few times now when teams have been interested and ring you up and do the interview and medicals and it doesn't happen," he said.

"It's a big let down so I've learned not to get my hopes up too much but at the same time I'd like to train and keep fit in case it does happen so I'm ready to go.

"I think it's made me a stronger person as well. It's built a lot of character and resolve in me, so it's made me a better person.

"At the same time, I'd love to get that opportunity to play AFL and prove a lot of people wrong."

[Jukes]

You lost me at full-back.

[Driride]

If guts can get you in the big time I think he has made it , will keep a eye on him if picked up

[Football Factory]

You lost me at full-back.

PMSL ...

[T Dog]

Apparently he has a brother who can play a bit... 8)

[TeeJay]

Nope

[Justin Bieber]

Poor guy. Will always live in his brothers shadow...

[Jroo]

Apparently he has a brother who can play a bit... 8)

haha good call. Hope he gets picked up by an AFL club.

[Adamant]

You lost me at full-back.

PMSL ...

Haha

[Kellogscrunchynut]

You lost me at full-back.

PMSL ...

Haha

Thank you Jukes for brightening up my day :)

Great article I reckon if he has confidence clubs looking at him are going to be pleased and more likely to pick him up. Although I can't see him getting any further than the rookie draft that may be all that he needs.